Mohan Bhagwat, sarsanghchalak or chief of the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), has seen a dramatic transformation in his image since he set about repositioning the RSS leading up to its centenary. Whether this is making him toss and turn in bed at night or sleep better, he won’t tell us. It’s just that becoming some kind of a liberal mascot, at least for some, wasn’t on his, or any saranghchalak’s KRAs.
He’s got both his loyalists and hard critics confused. The hard ideological base has been thrown by what they see as some increasingly liberal positions he’s taking. This has led to the rise of an Indian “trad” grouping, sticking to the older Hindu conservatism and nationalism which they see the RSS deviating from under Bhagwat. Sort of like the MAGA to the right of the classical Republicans in the US, although we can’t stretch that comparison too far. Equally, he’s confused the hard liberal community for whom the BJP, Narendra Modi and the RSS are a three-in-one entity. For some of them Bhagwat now brings relief. Are these winds of change? Is he cautioning Modi government? Is he resetting the RSS worldview closer to center? Let me underline first of all, the fundamental ideology and philosophy of the RSS isn’t about to change. What’s on display is political pragmatism in the 13th year of power.
